All Burien employers must determine their legal responsibilities per Burien’s fair labor standards ordinance, Burien Municipal Code (BMC) Chapter 5.16.
The City has provided information and materials below to support compliance with BMC Chapter 5.16. Answers to many commonly asked questions can be found on this webpage.
Those requiring further support with interpretation of BMC Chapter 5.16 are encouraged to seek guidance from private legal counsel. A civil action may be brought against violators of BMC Chapter 5.16 within five years of the date of the violation.
Determining Applicable Minimum Wage
The Burien City Council took action on May 18, 2026, to clarify the minimum wage rate and to assure compliance with BMC Chapter 5.16.
The hourly minimum wage rate increases by the annual rate of inflation each January 1. The City will publish the applicable hourly minimum wage rate for the following year by October 15 of each year.
Burien’s ordinance defines the minimum wage for three levels of employers:
Large employers
(501 or more employees)
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- 2025 Burien large employer minimum wage hourly rate: $21.10
- 2026 Burien large employer minimum wage hourly rate: $21.71
- 2027 and beyond Burien large employer minimum wage hourly rate: prior year’s rate + CPI
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Medium employers
(16-500 employees)
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- 2025 Burien medium employer minimum wage hourly rate: $19.10
- 2026 Burien medium employer minimum wage hourly rate: $20.71
- 2027 and beyond Burien medium employer minimum wage hourly rate: Equal to the then-current large employer rate
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Small employers
(15 or fewer employees)
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- 2025 Burien small employer minimum wage hourly rate: $18.10
- 2026 Burien small employer minimum wage hourly rate: $19.21
- 2027 Burien small employer minimum wage hourly rate: 2027 large employer rate minus $2.00
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Employers should consult BMC Chapter 5.16 to determine their minimum wage rate. Some items to note:
- Medium and small employers have a multi-year phase-in period. For medium employers, an initial two-dollar reduction from the large employer rate will decrease by one dollar annually until the reduction is zero. For small employers, an initial three-dollar reduction from the large employer rate will decrease by fifty cents until the reduction is zero.
- Franchisees associated with a franchisor or a network of franchises with franchisees that employ more than 15 but not more than 500 employees in aggregate are considered a medium employer, and those with franchisees that employ more than 500 employees in aggregate are considered a large employer.
- Tips and service charges must be paid to employees and are in addition to, and may not count toward, the employee's hourly minimum wage.
Additional Hours Requirement
Large and medium employers must offer additional hours of work to qualified part-time employees before hiring new employees or subcontractors (including temporary agencies) per BMC 5.16.060.
Compliance
Beginning January 31, 2027, employers must certify their compliance with BMC Chapter 5.16 annually.
Resources
Burien Minimum Wage Background
The Burien City Council had previously adopted a minimum wage ordinance in 2024, BMC Chapter 5.15, which went into effect on January 1, 2025. The City Council repealed BMC Chapter 5.15, effective May 27, 2026.
A voter initiative establishing BMC Chapter 5.16, Fair Labor Standards Ordinance, was passed in February 2025 and became law on March 23, 2025.
BMC Chapter 5.16, along with Burien Administrative Rule #2026-01, defines the minimum wage in Burien.
To seek clarity for Burien’s employees, employers, and residents on questions regarding BMC Chapter 5.16, the City of Burien requested guidance from King County Superior Court in February 2025. This request remains unresolved as of May 2026.
Updated May 21, 2026